Performance Comparisons
Performance of the six 2GB memory kits was compared to the three 2GB kits tested in Part 1 of the 2GB roundup. Results are also generally comparable to earlier results on the nForce3 and nForce4 testbed using the AGP and PCIe versions of the NVIDIA 6800 video card. While we retested the first three 2GB kits in the revised test bed using the NVIDIA 7800GTX and the latest platform and video drivers, the results are not radically different from those in the old test bed, as long as you don't make too much of small percentage difference in memory performance. However, we have only reported results on the newest revised test bed to prevent any confusion about the influence of video card and drivers on the final results.
More results are available in recent DDR memory reviews at:
1GB DIMMs: FAST 2GB DDR Kits from Corsair, Gigaram, and OCZ
Mushkin Redline XP4000: Winbond with Voltage Be Damned
Value RAM Roundup: Computing On a Budget
Patriot DDR400 2-2-2/DDR533 3-4-4: Performance AND Value
OCZ VX Revisited: DDR Updates on DFI nForce4
OCZ VX Memory + DFI nForce4 = DDR533 at 2-2-2
Corsair 4400C25: Taking Samsung TCCD to New Heights
PQI & G. Skill: New Choices in 2-2-2 Memory
Athlon 64 Memory: Rewriting the Rules
OCZ 3700 Gold Rev. 3: DDR500 Value for Athlon 64 & Intel 478
Geil PC3200 Ultra X: High Speed & Record Bandwidth
= F-A-S-T= DDR Memory: 2-2-2 Roars on the Scene
Buffalo FireStix: Red Hot Name for a New High-End Memory
New DDR Highs: Shikatronics, OCZ, and the Fastest Memory Yet
The Return of 2-2-2: Corsair 3200XL & Samsung PC4000
OCZ 3700EB: Making Hay with Athlon 64
OCZ 3500EB: The Importance of Balanced Memory Timings
Mushkin PC3200 2-2-2 Special: Last of a Legend
PMI DDR533: A New Name in High-Performance Memory
Samsung PC3700: DDR466 Memory for the Masses
Kingmax Hardcore Memory: Tiny BGA Reaches For Top Speed
New Memory Highs: Corsair and OCZ Introduce DDR550
OCZ PC3700 Gold Rev. 2: The Universal Soldier
OCZ 4200EL: Tops in Memory Performance
Mushkin PC4000 High Performance: DDR500 PLUS
Corsair TwinX1024-4000 PRO: Improving DDR500 Performance
Mushkin & Adata: 2 for the Fast-Timings Lane
Searching for the Memory Holy Grail – Part 2
All nine of the 2GB DDR kits were compared at 200x12 (2.4Ghz, DDR400), 218x11 (2.4Ghz, DDR438), 240x10 (2.4Ghz, DDR480), 266x9 (2.4Ghz, DDR533) and the Highest Memory Performance Settings that we could reach. With a constant CPU speed, memory comparisons (except for top performance) show the true impact of faster speed and slower memory timings on memory performance.
Performance results for the fastest 2x512MB (1GB) kit that we have tested are included for reference at Highest Performance only. Including our standard OCZ 3200 Platinum R2, based on TCCD chips, allows you to compare performance at the top to the best 2x512MB kit that we have tested. For more comparisons to 1GB kits, please refer to earlier memory reviews linked above.
Keep in mind that Highest Performance is not comparing memory at the same multipliers. The factor of the overclocking abilities of the 400+ used for benchmarking comes in to play. For instance, a memory that reaches its highest overclock at a somewhat low clock frequency can actually have that clock frequency fall in the processor OC capabilities where it can run at a higher multiplier. The definition of Highest Performance is the highest clock frequency and multiplier that we could run with the tested memory and the standard 4000+ CPU. For a true "apples to apples" comparison, you need to look at comparisons at the same speed and multiplier.
Results of the retest of the first three 2GB kits are in green, the six new 2GB kits are in dark blue, and the Reference 1GB OCZ 3200 Platinum R2 results are in gold.
Performance of the six 2GB memory kits was compared to the three 2GB kits tested in Part 1 of the 2GB roundup. Results are also generally comparable to earlier results on the nForce3 and nForce4 testbed using the AGP and PCIe versions of the NVIDIA 6800 video card. While we retested the first three 2GB kits in the revised test bed using the NVIDIA 7800GTX and the latest platform and video drivers, the results are not radically different from those in the old test bed, as long as you don't make too much of small percentage difference in memory performance. However, we have only reported results on the newest revised test bed to prevent any confusion about the influence of video card and drivers on the final results.
More results are available in recent DDR memory reviews at:
1GB DIMMs: FAST 2GB DDR Kits from Corsair, Gigaram, and OCZ
Mushkin Redline XP4000: Winbond with Voltage Be Damned
Value RAM Roundup: Computing On a Budget
Patriot DDR400 2-2-2/DDR533 3-4-4: Performance AND Value
OCZ VX Revisited: DDR Updates on DFI nForce4
OCZ VX Memory + DFI nForce4 = DDR533 at 2-2-2
Corsair 4400C25: Taking Samsung TCCD to New Heights
PQI & G. Skill: New Choices in 2-2-2 Memory
Athlon 64 Memory: Rewriting the Rules
OCZ 3700 Gold Rev. 3: DDR500 Value for Athlon 64 & Intel 478
Geil PC3200 Ultra X: High Speed & Record Bandwidth
= F-A-S-T= DDR Memory: 2-2-2 Roars on the Scene
Buffalo FireStix: Red Hot Name for a New High-End Memory
New DDR Highs: Shikatronics, OCZ, and the Fastest Memory Yet
The Return of 2-2-2: Corsair 3200XL & Samsung PC4000
OCZ 3700EB: Making Hay with Athlon 64
OCZ 3500EB: The Importance of Balanced Memory Timings
Mushkin PC3200 2-2-2 Special: Last of a Legend
PMI DDR533: A New Name in High-Performance Memory
Samsung PC3700: DDR466 Memory for the Masses
Kingmax Hardcore Memory: Tiny BGA Reaches For Top Speed
New Memory Highs: Corsair and OCZ Introduce DDR550
OCZ PC3700 Gold Rev. 2: The Universal Soldier
OCZ 4200EL: Tops in Memory Performance
Mushkin PC4000 High Performance: DDR500 PLUS
Corsair TwinX1024-4000 PRO: Improving DDR500 Performance
Mushkin & Adata: 2 for the Fast-Timings Lane
Searching for the Memory Holy Grail – Part 2
All nine of the 2GB DDR kits were compared at 200x12 (2.4Ghz, DDR400), 218x11 (2.4Ghz, DDR438), 240x10 (2.4Ghz, DDR480), 266x9 (2.4Ghz, DDR533) and the Highest Memory Performance Settings that we could reach. With a constant CPU speed, memory comparisons (except for top performance) show the true impact of faster speed and slower memory timings on memory performance.
Performance results for the fastest 2x512MB (1GB) kit that we have tested are included for reference at Highest Performance only. Including our standard OCZ 3200 Platinum R2, based on TCCD chips, allows you to compare performance at the top to the best 2x512MB kit that we have tested. For more comparisons to 1GB kits, please refer to earlier memory reviews linked above.
Keep in mind that Highest Performance is not comparing memory at the same multipliers. The factor of the overclocking abilities of the 400+ used for benchmarking comes in to play. For instance, a memory that reaches its highest overclock at a somewhat low clock frequency can actually have that clock frequency fall in the processor OC capabilities where it can run at a higher multiplier. The definition of Highest Performance is the highest clock frequency and multiplier that we could run with the tested memory and the standard 4000+ CPU. For a true "apples to apples" comparison, you need to look at comparisons at the same speed and multiplier.
Results of the retest of the first three 2GB kits are in green, the six new 2GB kits are in dark blue, and the Reference 1GB OCZ 3200 Platinum R2 results are in gold.
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DonPMitchell - Monday, March 6, 2006 - link
I'm surprised there was no discussion of single-rank vs. dual-rank memory. For the Athlon, that's a big issue, becuase its memory controller may down-clock beyond 4 ranks of memory.nyogen - Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - link
I remember when Nvidia released their 6xxx series there was an all out boycott of paper launches.OCZ and Mushkin released not very long ago their 2GB dual channel high end kits namely:
http://www.mushkin.com/doc/products/memory_detail....">http://www.mushkin.com/doc/products/memory_detail....
http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/ocz_e...">http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/ocz_e...
Apart from these parts not having been available, the new batch that carries only the name given by reviews are flagged by poor performance, different IC's from the original batch, and lots of glitches.
I am sure Corsair and all the other manufacturers are doing the same, paper launch, hard launch cherry picked and then selling out to unsuspecting customers a COMPLETELY different product, backed by reputable reviews.
Don't you feel like they have been using you and used your reputation and popularity in order to commit something very close to fraud ???
If you encourage us to buy these products then you have the responsability to follow up on the products life and batches so that once they try to do this again you will be there to sanction this and PROTECT US. Otherwise your reviews become fairy tales and the only ones that have the reviewed products are you and a couple of people in the world.
GO FOR THEM ! END THIS UNFAIR PRACTICE !
Overlag - Monday, February 6, 2006 - link
Crucial have infact stopped making there 1gig DDRI sticks due to the massive fail rate on there high end products.i have had 6x 512mb failures and 4x 1gig failures. While there customer services is the best of ANY online company ive dealt with, there high end products are really bad quality now.... the ram overheats, then after a few months wont run at 1t, then it starts making noises while you access it, before finaly degrading over a month from 2-2-2-6 settings down to 3-4-4-10 untill failing totaly.
This includes chips (my latest two) which ive been using at 2.7volts ONLY, and with active cooling, yet they are still hotter than my X2 4400 at 4800 speeds...Last week they run fine at 2-2-2-7 1t, now they are at 3-3-3-8 2t :(
... Why there high end products have problems i dont know, there normal or value ram runs fine for YEARS and YEARS.
Very disapointed with it all apart from the customer services. However even that has started to disapoint me, as they refused to RMA/refund me for my 2x 512mb pair...
leexgx - Monday, February 6, 2006 - link
i had no problems getting my ram RMAed and replaced (2 days ago 2 day turn around UK) never had something replaced so fast before :)you can still buy it from here (UK tho)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Crucial_Dua...">http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Crucial_Dua...
on an other note it is an consern to me as well i have never used ram that can heat my room (needs active cooling) like others have posted it does run hot if not cooled i cant seem to get to 2-2-2-7 T1 my asus a8n-sli prem does an anoying thing by auto setting it to 4 5 5 12 {fail safe maybe?}(when i open A64 tweeker as it shows the info) then the nvidia Sound or nvidia video tray Icon crashs the system with an nice BSOD, (works fine tho at 3-3-3-7 T1 @ ddr500 2.7v or ddr speed lower but just run it at ddr400 ish now)
an but realy any way good OCZ or just standered TwinMoss ram is realy real world 2-4% performance dif (Amd64 On chip ram contorler removes the bottle neck that was on the Older k7 chips i go for lower timeings over more bandwith)
realy should have an look at DFI streets Forums on the matter of ddr1 Ocing (AMD overclocking) http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f...">http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f...
(other note i think my ram was partly dead when i got it just put up with it untill me pc did not boot any more )
Overlag - Thursday, February 9, 2006 - link
i wouldnt want to buy ballistix ever again... Once this set finaly gives up the ghost i will ask for a full refund and get some real memory.XeCutor - Thursday, February 2, 2006 - link
My first pair failed memtest at 250mhz, seemed stable at 247mhz. My second pair does 250mhz but not much more. Fails at 255mhz. All this is on a DFI Expert board with an opteron 165 3-4-4-8 1T timings at 2,6-2,8v. Voltage doesn't seem to matter att all to these sticks, they fail at the same speeds regardless for me.bupkus - Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - link
I went for the Twinx2048-3200c2pt because of the lower timings and $197 AMIR price. I haven't researched this much lately, but I recall PC3200 with tight timings getting the nod from the enthusiast community for the Athlon 64.The TWINX2048-4000PT that I faced it off to lists timings of 3-4-4-8 which I thought wasn't preferable to the tighter timings especially with a price of $233.
The OCZ4002048ELDCPE-K is going for the same price of about $200 but the OCZ5001024EBPE only appears on newegg as a single 1GB module for $153.44 + $4.81 shipping.
That's too rich for my blood.
I guess the question for me would be which is the best for $200 +- $20?
Visual - Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - link
Besides the TWINX kit, corsair offers single 1GB modules too - again marked as 4000PTThe price for the kits for some reason seems higher than two separate modules.
So my question is, are the separate modules the same thing as what's in the kits? Why don't you mention them at all, and either recommend them for better value over the overpriced kits, or, if they dont perform as well, warn users about them?
Googer - Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - link
I would have liked to have seen four 512MB modules shown in the graphs as a refrence of how much or how little there is to gain by using these pairs of 1GB modules. By doing this I could form a cost/benefit analasys.bersl2 - Monday, January 23, 2006 - link
I'm going to wait to see if the price on DDR1 falls again before AMD goes DDR2. If it does, I'll get 2 x 1GiB to replace the 4 x 512MiB I bought over a year ago, but haven't been able to use until just now.